https://www.puckerfishvape.com2019-01-21T22:50:28Z2015-03-25T00:00:00Z2015-03-25T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/irrational-taxes/So I spoke at the Ways & Means Committee a while back against this proposed tax in Bill HB64, which would add an additional $34 to the price of a 30ml bottle of juice. I refined that speech (thankfully) and submitted as witness testimony to the Financial Committee today. I had hoped to speak personally, but unfortunately got called away. Nevertheless, it is submitted and there is a slim chance I may speak tomorrow.

________

I’d like to
begin by thanking Chairman Smith, Vice Chair Schuring, Ranking Member Driehaus
and members of the House Finance Committee for allowing us the opportunity to
appear before you today. It is much appreciated.

My name is
Matt Dawson. I am the co-owner of Puckerfish Vape. We have three vapor stores
here in Ohio. We are a small and young business, with a dozen employees
currently. Hopefully, we will continue to grow. I’m sure we can all agree we
would like to see the numbers of smokers in Ohio drop. It is absolutely our
Mission at Puckerfish.

HB64
proposes to increase the price of e-juice comparatively to cigarettes. A 30ml
bottle would increase from approximately $20 now, to as much as $55. Of course,
as a business owner that sells these products, this alarms me, but I also come
as an everyday citizen, a constituent and most importantly, an ex-smoker. I am passionate
about the effectiveness of vapor products and how it has improved my life and the
lives of so many others around me. What this bill will do, is absolutely impede
progress that has been made, and it will slow down progress yet to come.

Smoking
traditional cigarettes causes over 480,000 deaths each year in this country and
millions of our citizens are addicted to nicotine. I am one of them.

My story
parallels many of my own customers. I smoked for nearly 20 years, beginning in
college, a combination of factors contributing to my starting: peer pressure,
status and mostly stress. In 2006, I quit smoking, after many failed attempts.
For once, I was successful. That success lasted four years. My father’s
passing, a rough divorce, raising three children on my own… well, the stress of
it all led me back to cigarettes. I’m not proud of it.

When I attempted
to quit again in 2011, it seemed more difficult than ever. That was, until I
discovered vaping, or rather, electronic cigarettes. I got my need for nicotine
satisfied in a manner which greatly simulated a cigarette. Nicotine, through
this food-grade vapor, was delivered directly into my system – to the point,
where it even felt like the drag of a cigarette. The bonus? I’m getting no
buildup of tar from my electronic cigarette. I’m also not inhaling thousands of
additional carcinogens found only in traditional cigarettes.

I vape… but
I absolutely quit smoking.

Nicotine, in
and of itself, is very much like caffeine. They are both stimulant drugs and
highly addictive. Both are classified as secondary stimulant drugs, because unlike drugs such as amphetamines
and cocaine, they don’t affect the central nervous system, but rather the
sympathetic nervous system. Unlike stimulants that are abused for
recreational purposes, caffeine and nicotine generally produce an increased
energy level; not intoxication.

The main
difference between the two is that while caffeine can be delivered in a
relatively safe manner, until recently, nicotine could not. Tar builds in the
lungs from combustible cigarettes. There are also thousands upon thousands of
carcinogens found in them.

Other than
the nicotine, vapor products contain US food-grade ingredients. Things we put
in our body every day. For the base liquid: propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. These
two liquids are used in hundreds of thousands of food and medicinal products –
things we consume every day, such as asthma inhalers, children’s Tylenol,
frozen foods and even ice cream. The only other ingredients in e-juice are food
extracts and flavorings, and pharmaceutical grade nicotine.

I would like
to note that Nicotine gum, which is also used as a smoking cessation and
nicotine replacement tool, contains more ingredients than e-juice. Nicorette
Quickmist, an oral spray also used as a cessation tool, contains Propylene
Glycol, Anhydrous Ethanol, Trometamol, Poloxamer 407, Glycerol, Sodium Hydrogen
Carbonate, Levomenthol, Mint Flavour, Cooling Flavour, Sucralose, Acesulfame
Potassium, Hydrochloric Acid, Purified Water. To my knowledge, neither Nicorette
gum, nor Nicorette Quickmist is taxed in any way like what is proposed in this
bill on e-juice.

One of my
best friend’s mothers quit smoking with nicotine gum nearly two decades ago. To
this day, she still chews nicotine gum. It is absolutely a safer method of
delivering nicotine to her system than smoking. I feel that way about vaping. I
know it has extended and improved my life. I’m watching it do the same for
others every day. I can breathe better, smell better, and taste better.

However, had the cost of vaping been
equivalent to cigarettes, I may never have made the switch.

There are
two PRIMARY reasons to quit smoking:

1)Health – we all know it causes health
issues and shortens life expectancy.

2)Money – because of the high tax on
cigarettes right now, stopping smoking simply saves a lot of money.

Regardless
of these two very valid and common-sense reasons to quit, it doesn’t make it
easy… or even possible, for some people. There are good people who battle to
their dying day making attempts at quitting and simply could not. Addiction is
a very powerful thing. In some studies, nicotine has been shown to be more
addictive than heroin.

This is
where I would like to make the point about money. It doesn’t matter HOW MUCH
something costs, if it is addictive in nature, people will buy it. Our courts
are filled with very poor people facing jail time for possession of very
expensive street drugs. Pricing an addictive substance to a point where it
seems like every rational person would quit, doesn’t work. Instead, it simply
takes advantage of them. It also, by proxy, opens up a black market. In New
York, an astonishing percentage of cigarette sales move through the black
market. Estimated more than half.

From what I
understand, much of the tax dollars generated from traditional tobacco sales
was to be allotted only for smoking cessation and education programs and
through that effort, smoking rates in Ohio dropped to all-time low of 20%.

Unfortunately,
in 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that these funds could be used for other
programs. Programs that benefit all people, smokers and non-smokers alike. In
Ohio in 2012, nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars were generated, much
of the money going to programs completely unrelated to anti-smoking programs,
including jobs programs. Since that ruling, smoking rates have risen, back up
to over 23%. Could it be a correlation?

As I
mentioned earlier, I started smoking and smoking heavily in college. Had vaping
been available to me, I am confident I would have chosen it over smoking,
ESPECIALLY considering the cost. But if this tax goes through, it would
actually make vaping MORE expensive than smoking, especially for some vaping enthusiasts.

If the cost
for e-juice is comparable to cigarettes, I think it will definitely slow down
or reverse the numbers of people who have quit smoking through vaping. In my
opinion, and putting it plainly, this bill is dangerous.

Removing
people’s financial incentive to quit smoking - by removing affordable access to
what is arguably the best nicotine replacement tool on the market - will
certainly condemn some of those people to that terrible death statistic
mentioned earlier, because they would continue smoking, rather than making a
viable change to vapor products. In my opinion, this tax would absolutely be
responsible for delaying the lowering of the number of smokers in this state.

It sends a
message that we respect other nicotine replacement delivery systems - such as
the nicotine patch, the spray or gum - but we don’t respect this one because it
kind of looks like smoking. I believe
that would be shameful.

Thank you
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I'd be happy to answer any questions
you may have.

]]>false2014-10-17T07:32:57Z2014-10-17T07:32:57Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog//The vaping industry is at a major crossroad. Depending on what happens next, e-cigs (pens, APVs and mech mods all combined) will either rot in the land of once-hyped forgotten gadgets, or would-be smokers will instead spend late nights puffing away in a hip sweet-smelling vape lounge with a beer (or coffee) in one hand and a pimped-out mod in the other.

There is a newly proposed plan (pdf download) at the Food and Drug Administration for how it could regulate the industry. If the FDA rules stand, the restrictions could wind up choking small vape businesses and clear the path for big tobacco firms poised to cash in on the trend. Per the FDA’s proposal, any e-cig product made after 2007, including new models, must get FDA approval to be sold. That means hiring experts to do medical research to determine the health impact of the device, which can take months and cost an estimated $3-4 million and take 5,000 hours for each application.

But
the new blueprint was also notable for what it did not contain: any
proposal to ban flavors in e-cigarettes and cigars, like bubble gum and
grape, that public health experts say lure children to use the products,
or any move to restrict the marketing of e-cigarettes, as is done for
traditional cigarettes, which are banned from television, for example.

F.D.A.
officials said the new regulations were the first major step toward
asserting the agency’s authority and eventually being able to regulate
flavors and marketing. But doing so will require further federal
rulemaking, they said.

For
example, to restrict the use of flavors, the agency would have to
establish a factual record that they pose a health risk for young
people. The same goes for marketing, an area that has been vulnerable to
litigation from industry. The agency tried to impose graphic warning
labels on cigarette packaging, for example, only to have tobacco
companies fight the measure in court and win on grounds that it violated
their First Amendment right to free speech.

“You can’t get to the flavors until you have regulatory authority over them,” said Mitchell Zeller, director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the F.D.A. He called the blueprint “foundational.”

The
regulations establish federal authority over tobacco products that were
not named in the 2009 tobacco control law, including certain
dissolvable tobacco products, water pipe tobacco and nicotine gels.
E-cigarettes are considered a tobacco product because their main
ingredient, nicotine, is derived from tobacco.

Needless to say, most of the merchants selling e-juice don't have that kind of cash. Vape shops which, despite statewide vaping bans and increased pressure from the government to stymie the trend, are popping up all over the country and would be left with no suppliers to source products for their stores from.

My name's Jim, and I'm a new employee here at Puckerfish. I started vaping almost a year ago to cut down on my smoking (2 and a half packs a day). Immediately i saw the benefits, cutting down to less than half a pack right away.

I dropped the analogs for good the day my second son was born and haven't looked back. I decided i wanted to be around to see my boys grow up so i made the responsible choice to start vaping exclusively. My current setup is an authentic Raijin mod, with the raiju dripper, and the raishin drip tip. I'm very much into the mechanical side of the hardware scene and a huge dripping fan, so if you need any help stop in and I'd be happy to help. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope to see you soon!

]]>false2014-08-14T00:00:00Z2014-08-14T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/new-juices-and-such/Making great e-juice is more challenging than one may think, just ask anyone who has ever tried DIY. We spent a lot of time and effort creating a process which suspends every single flavor in 4 variations of PG/VG. It drastically cuts steeping times, makes blending flavors very consistent and guarantees accuracy in mixing. We are always seeking ways to improve our process and our products and increase our product line.

That said, one challenge we had when making high VG juice (for those who prefer to drip and those who may have a mild allergy to PG), was getting as much great flavor as our standard line. We've finally found a system that works great, while employing our same techniques and strict standards.

We've just unrolled a few flavors that we'll always have ready for those that prefer high VG. Clocking in at 80% VG, we have French Vanilla, Peaches & Cream, Strawberries & Cream and Watermelon. Of course, you can still create your own concoctions. These juices are rich, bold and delicious and we're really excited to be offering them, so be sure to pick one up if high VG is your game!

Just yummy!!

]]>false2014-07-18T00:00:00Z2014-07-18T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/new-inventory-and-everyday-happenings/Wow, seven weeks in and each week keeps getting better and better. We really want to thank everyone who has visited and come back time and again for the business, the loyalty and the help in making our shop better every day. We have some really exciting news, and even more coming soon that I can't yet reveal. More on that in the next few days.

So we got the Innokin MVPs in, among a host of other new batteries.. We also got in the Aspire Nautlis, iClear30S and the Patriot clone. Sold out of some of that stuff in no time. Our reorder has more on the truck and should be in by tomorrow or Monday, July 21.

For those that are not familiar with the MVP, it's kind of
like the be-all, end-all battery for everyday vapers. A huge 2600mAh
battery, with a puff counter, short circuit protection, pass-through
charging, variable voltage and wattage and it can even charge your
phones and cameras if needed. Dollar for dollar, it's the best bang for
the buck in our opinion. Come out and check it out next time around!

]]>false2014-06-17T00:00:00Z2014-06-17T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/getting-the-word-out/We just want to say thanks for all the great response we've gotten since we've opened. Our returning customers continue to impress us by coming back again and again, and we are humbled by the accolades. We've been selling lots of Fruit Yogurt Smoothie e-juice, Peppermint, Melons and Banana Cream Pie, of course. I would just like to see more people custom designing their own. Not sure if people are bashful or short on time, but we can kick them out pretty quick. :)

Most importantly, we want to get better known around the community, so we'll be sending out postcards and flyers inviting others in. Be sure to pass those around if you happen to come across one. (shameless, aren't I?) :)

]]>false2014-06-10T00:00:00Z2014-06-10T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/a-customer-creates-a-great-one/
Puckerfish is unique in that you can order your own custom e-juice designs. We want to thank Patrick K for coming in the other day and coming up with a great one, he called 'Bourbon Blitz', a 50/50 blend of Blackberry and Bourbon. We were shocked how such a simple recipe could turn out so delicious! Honestly, I think it's better than our Butterscotch Bourbon.

We're putting Patrick's original recipe on the menu, so come to the store to get it right away! Or, feel free to use our Flavor Making Widget to create this custom e-liquid for yourself. We're going to credit Pat $1 for every bottle sold toward the purchase of anything in the store as our thanks to him for allowing us to share this with others. :)

]]>false2014-06-09T00:00:00Z2014-06-09T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/how-much-vg-did-you-want-in-that/Hi folks! We finally finished outfitting the lab and our online software to give you full control over your PG / VG mix ratio. We're pretty excited about this, as we know how much people like to get everything down to their exact specifications. We're confident you'll love our juice no matter what option you choose, so whether you're a vaper like me, using a simple eGo Twist who likes a nice throat hit, or a serious gear-head who enjoys high VG concoctions (up to 80% VG), we can fill your order to your exact specifications.

We can't yet offer a 100% VG option, but we can come pretty close.

]]>false2014-06-05T00:00:00Z2014-06-05T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/custom-flavors/Many people enjoy creating their own custom flavors. Some folks even go so far as to take juices they buy in stores and mix with others. At Puckerfish, you can design your custom flavors either online or via our in-store kiosks and our mixologist will delicately concoct your unique flavor on the spot. When orders are placed, a formula is sent directly to the lab that ensures your juice is met to your exact specifications.

We're very proud of the work we put in our process. Here are a few snapshots of some finished ones.

]]>false2014-06-01T00:00:00Z2014-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.puckerfishvape.com/blog/finally-open/After a lot of grunt work, our brick and mortar location is finally open, so if you're in the Mansfield / Ontario area be sure to check us out! 1621 W 4th St (exactly one mile east of the Lexington-Springmill Rd and 4th Street corner). We're running a lot of specials to get to know you.

I owe a lot of thanks to Derrick Pifer, the young man who taught me everything about mixing flavors and who is an active partner in this business. Also, much appreciation to my son, Gabe, along with Paris Robertson and by long-time business partner, Barna. All of them have busted their buns to get the store open and committed to do the same to serve our customers with the utmost respect and care.

We still have some art to get on the walls and t-shirts coming in, but we're ready to serve your needs as best we can. All of the partners will be posting here very soon, too. For the time being, enjoy a few photos and thanks for stopping by!